After reading ‘The virtual individual’ by Jordan I realized how little I knew. With being able to send emails, use trade me, msn and having the ability to search and find whatever I was looking for, I believed that I was pretty much onto it. What a shock I have had.
I am of the older age group where the internet (even the computer) is something which I have taught myself to use. Most of my expertise is within Word for my uni study.
My children are grown and have much more knowledge than I. They have been taught many online skills through their education. My flatmate has two children. The youngest, twelve has homework where she has to search the internet, and her older brother who is fourteen needs a laptop for school next year. This is an example of how this technology has become a natural part of everyday life.
Many parents and care givers are concerned with the different virtual spaces that their children could access and try to censor them, but with the next generation being so computer and internet literate is it possible for these adults to have the upper hand?
I am getting my head around the level of virtual spaces available to the individual. Reading about avatars, styles, MUDs etc is all new to me. The ability to be able to be anyone on line could, I feel be a double edged sword. In a virtual space the individual can converse with anyone, breaking down any hierarchical systems. Having access to any form of information, and those with the knowledge which the individual is interested in. Unfortunately, as in every part of society, there are those who abuse any system. Their main goal is to infiltrate and cause as much trouble as possible. I know through my own experience that if anything goes wrong while online I do not have the knowledge to fix or correct any problems, and I believe that there are many in the same situation as me. I hope that during this course that my knowledge will increase.
